Creative Technology introduced its next-generation Audigy 2 card Monday, promising new levels of audio fidelity and a new media player. Creative also said it has developed a line of ultra-quiet PC components, which it will be marketing on a trial basis to further show off its audio lineup.

As with its Audigy card, the Audigy 2 will turn off S/PDIF output when "protected content" is detected.

For now, Creative will continue to market and sell its first-generation Audigy card. However, Audigy's new "Platinum" version of the Audigy 2 card, which fits into a 5 ¼" drive bay, will replace the Audigy Platinum. The Audigy EX will also be produced "for the time being," according to a spokesman for Creative Labs, Creative's U.S. facility.

The company is also test-marketing a line of "ultra-quiet components," dubbed "Slix", Creative said. Although the line has yet to be formally announced, Creative is working with OEMs to try to minimize fan noise and other distractions that could drown out Creative's rarified audio quality.

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